Preventing Autoimmune Diseases

Is reducing inflammation a common thread?

We are fortunate to have a local clinic (Barbara Davis Center in Denver) that is part of the Autoimmunity Center of Excellence along with our local Children’s Hospital and National Jewish Hospital. Thanks to this award-winning collaboration, we have participated in numerous studies regarding related autoimmune disorders.

Many believe inflammation is an underlying cause in addition to genetics. This is a problem with a solution. Let’s focus on a cure which is SAFE, EFFICACIOUS, and AFFORDABLE….particularly Vitamin D to support the immune system and DHA/EPA to reduce inflammation.

The classic sign of an autoimmune disease is inflammation. Autoimmune diseases may also have flare-ups and remissions. Treatment depends on the disease, but one important goal is to reduce inflammation. Sometimes doctors prescribe corticosteroids. See the article above and make sure your doctor fully understands how lethal corticosteroids can be to beta cells.
Remember, inflammation can be safely suppressed through other means – consider high dose DHA/EPA, with Vitamin D and perhaps aspirin combination to achieve the same results, safely and inexpensively.

Coeliac Sprue (aka celiac) – http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/171805-workup
This is so common among those with t1d that it is routinely tested at diagnosis – as are the autoantibodies of immediate family members due to the elevated risk for all family members.
Symptoms can vary or even be non-existent. There are three autoantibodies they can test.
There is no current cure, but you can avoid complications if you,
#1 – don’t eat gluten! Thankfully, with almond and coconut flour and other healthy alternatives, it is a great and healthy way to eat, and gluten elimination may be helpful in preventing other autoimmune disorders (like t1d).
#2 – there is information regarding giving steroids if someone is not responsive to a gluten free diet – DO NOT DO THIS without doing research! Steroids can be toxic to beta cells.

Ankylosing Spondylitis:
Another autoimmune disorder – primarily affecting the backhttp://www.spondylitis.org/About-Spondylitis/Ankylosing-Spondylitis
recommended treatments include aspirin and anti-inflammatories; consider high dose DHA/EPA with aspirin combo. Remember to ask about any steroidal recommendations due to damage to beta cells.

This is another autoimmune disorder which may be treated with steroids – but again, steroids should be the last resort if beta cell function is an issue.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27730032
Note that the people most affected had lower levels of Vitamin D!

Other prevention/reversal topics for t1d as well as other autoimmune diseases:

Cord Blood:
I think it is worth the cost of collection and storing if you are pregnant – it is autologous (self), and we have safely reinfused in new-onset patients. It may take a combination therapy, but if you don’t collect and store the cord blood, it won’t be there if/when the day comes where it could become routinely efficacious for t1d or another potential cure.

Anti Cd-3 studies: you may be asked to enter one of these studies if you have high autoantibody titers and an abnormal OGTT:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392937/
One researcher chose not to put his child on this, or safe interventions such as DHA – that child is now diabetic…anti-cd3 didn’t work at one year out anyway.

Anti-cd3 will never meet the three legs of the stool required to declare a true CURE!
– Safety (no side effects, short or long term)
– Affordability (in the general population)
– Efficacy (something that works in the long term and can be taken long term if needed)

Do not ignore the risks. If one of my kids was in this boat, I would certainly read and study this protocol and either do both or not enroll if prevented from attacking inflammation simultaneously.

Here is commentary on a case study that is potentially possible to replicate:

Hopefully, there will be a larger scale trial soon of a similar protocol. The children with diabetes RESEARCH foundation is hoping to help partially fund this innovative effort!

Thanks for reading this!Sonia Chritton

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